Carlos Stephen Nunez, 29, of Ocala was arrested about 2 a.m. Friday after giving police a false name, according to a Eustis Police report. The Eustis patrol officer had pulled over to talk to the suspect and another occupant of a vehicle that was parked on the north side of U.S. Highway 441 near SunTrust Bank, west of Eudora Road.

After discovering Nunez gave police a false name, they handcuffed him and put him in the back of the patrol car.

Nunez managed slip out of the handcuffs and crawl through the caged window portion of the cruiser to the front seat, then drove the police car down U.S. 441 with the overhead lights still activated.

Officers followed Nunez while Mount Dora police and Lake County Sherriff’s deputies helped by placing stop sticks to puncture the tires of the stolen patrol car. The stop sticks caused the tires to blow out, and the car landed in a culvert, sustaining about $10,000 damage.

Nunez was arrested and charged with misdemeanor giving a false name, felony charges of grand theft auto, aggravated fleeing and eluding, escape and criminal mischief. He was placed in the Lake County jail under a $26,500 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 13 at 8:30 a.m.